Magnetic key



May 8, 1928.

A. E. -ANAKlN MAGNETIC KEY Fild Feb. 6. 1925 Patented May e, 1928.

Mrs!) "STATES y 1,669,115 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. ANAKIN, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY.MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, T0 SAFEWAY LOCK COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

meennrrc KEY.

Application filed February 6, 1925. Serial No. 7,275.

This invention relates to improvements in keys. It is an object of thisinvention'to provide a. specially designed magnetic key adapted tooperate a lock.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a key formed ofmagnetized and non-magnetized material, in which themagnetized materialis formed in the shape of m a U-shaped or horse-shoe magnet so as tokeep the key highly magnetized.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifestin the following detailed description and pointed out in the appendedclaims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for anillustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 is a planview of a blank which 1 may employ in forming my improved key; Fig. 2 isa vertical section through a lock of such construction as to employ mymagnetized key; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical-section taken upon the line 4-4 upon Figure 2 inthe direction indicated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings" wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the lock which 1preferably employ consists of a body 10 in which there is rotatable acylinder 11. The cylinder 11 has a keyway 12 formed therein adapted toreceive a key 13. Tumbler slots 14 are formed in the body 10 and in thecylinder 11. Upper tumblers 15 are-disposed within the tumbler slotsformed in the body 10, and lower tumblers 16 are disposed in the tumblerslots in the cylinder 11. If desired, coil springs 17 may be employedfor urging theupper tumblers 15 and the lower tumblers 16 toward thebottom of the tumbler slots. In the bottom of the body 10 there areformed one or more cupshaped recesses 18, which are adapted to receiveballs 19. When the balls 19 are disposed within the recesses 18, theyare only half within the recesses, the upper half of each ball extendingabove the lower-surface of the cylinder 11, so that the ballseffectively key-the cylinder 11 against rotation within the body 10.

The key 13 is magnetized so that it provides a permanent magnet, andwhen thekey is inserted in the keyway 12, so as to lift the tumblers totheir proper positions, notches 20 which are formed in the key aredisposed over the balls 19 These notches are of such depth as tocompletely receive the balls 19. In this manner, when the key 13 isinserted, it will not only lift the tumblers. into their properpositions, but will attract the balls 19 so as to lift them out of theirrecesses 18. By lifting the balls 19 out of the recesses 18, thecylinder may then be rotated by the key 13.

From the above it will be appreciated that in order to open the lock, itis not only necessary to provide a key of such shape that it will holdthe tumblers in proper position to open the lock, but it is alsonecessary to employ a magnetized key to lift the balls 19. The preferredkey which I employ is formed of a blank 21 formed of steel which issufficiently *hardened to become permanently magnetized, or the key maybe formed of any other material capable of being permanently magnetized.v The blank 21 is in the form of two keys having their heads securedtogether, and notches 22 are formed in the blank, which, when theblankis folded upon the fold lines 23, cooperate to form the recesses ornotches 20. Between the two sections 24 and 25 of the blank 21 I place aspacer 26 of brass, lead or other non-magnetic material which is notcapable of being magnetized. In this manner when the portions 24 and 25are folded and held separat ed from each other by the non-magnetiospacer 26,-a U-shaped or horse-shoe magnet is in reality provlded, whiehwill remain highly magnetized for a long period of time, and will easilyand quickly lift the balls 19 upon being inserted into the lock.

From the above it isseen that I have provided a key which is magneticand which is formed both of magnetized material and non-magneticmaterial, and that the key is in reality a U-shaped or horse-shoemagnet.

The balls 19 preferably are of a diameter greater than the thickness ofthe key 13, and suitable grooves are formed in the sides of the keyway12 which maintain the "balls in the cylinder 11, sothat they will not bewith-' drawn from the cylinder upon removal of the key 13. 7

Although the look, as above described, is provided with -nopermanentlymagnetized parts, it is contemplated within the scope of 'this inventionto magnetize the balls 19 or the tumblers 16, or both, so that the keyand these parts may mutually attract each other. it will be understoodthat various changes in the detail of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope spacer of non-magnetic materialdisposed between the free ends of said magnet, the free ends of saidmagnet and said spacer having an identical marginal configuration.

3. A key comprising a U-shaped member formed of magnetic material, thefree ends of said member being spaced apart and having edges of such aconfiguration as is adapted to conform to the requirements of a lock.

4. A key comprising a section of sheet metal which has been magnetizedand which is bent U-shaped in form, and a spacer disposed between thefree ends'thereof and substantially occupying all of the space betweenthe free ends.

in testimony whereof 1 have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR E. ANAKPIN.

